214 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



vanished from that district, but thinks they may possibly have 

 been deposited further out, where the sea now apparently 

 breaks upon an obstacle where formerly none existed. 



Another noticeable change opposite Macedon is the extension 

 inland of the Laminarian Zone. Reflecting upon the general 

 results of the changes I have chronicled, I doubt very much if 

 the old variety of animal life could now be found upon our 

 shore, arid one can see how rapidly a small amount of geological 

 change may become a powerful factor in the local distribution 

 of plants and animals. 



And now the latest occurrence to record is a change in dis- 

 tribution, but in this case it is the hand of man, not the slower 

 process of geological change, that is responsible. Two years 

 ago I noticed for the first time a fine blue colour over the rocks, 

 such as we often see depicted in Hook's charming sea pieces, 

 caused by the presence of innumerable baby mussels (Mytilus 

 edulis), securely anchored to the reefs, and this year many 

 square yards of shore are thickly covered with almost full-grown 

 specimens. In my early days it was quite a rare thing to find 

 a stray living mussel, but their sudden appearance on our side 

 of the Lough is explained in a very interesting paper by R. 

 Lloyd Patterson, F.L.S., in last June's issue of The Irish 

 Naturalist. 



The papers were spoken of favourably by William Swanston, 

 F.G.S. ; William Gray, M.R.I.A. ; John Hamilton, and Alex. 

 G. Wilson. 



\ < m. Gray, M.R.I.A., then made a short report of the club 

 delegates to the British Association at Oxford, when the club 

 was awarded the thanks of the association for their invaluable 

 contributions of photographs illustrating the geology of our 

 district. 



In pursuance of the recommendation of the British Associa- 

 tion, W. Gray proposed, and R. J. Welch seconded, the 

 following resolution, which was unanimously passed : — " That 

 the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club should place themselves in 

 communication with the Belfast Corporation with a view to 



